News

“Fight the Bite” Against Mosquitoes

DCoDPH Urges Prevention During National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

Post Date:06/26/2017 2:23 PM

DURHAM, N.C. – Although mosquito season has begun, you can still take precautions against the diseases mosquitoes may carry. As part of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (June 26-July 1), the Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) encourages the public to understand the health risks associated with mosquitoes as they become active during the coming months.

“Because Durham is considered an urban area, our biggest concern is with ‘container-breeding mosquitoes.’ They are prevalent around containers and debris that hold water. They require water to complete their life cycle so if the water source is eliminated, so is their offspring,’ said Chris Salter, environmental health director, DCoDPH. “Asian tiger mosquitoes, commonly found in this area, can transmit many viral pathogens, including yellow fever virus, dengue fever, West Nile virus, Zika virus, and Chikungunya fever. We want the public to understand how to prevent and defend against these insects.”

The following tips will assist with mosquito protection:

Use insect repellent with the ingredient DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon-eucalyptus. When used as directed, repellents are proven safe and effective, even for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, declared by the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), is a campaign aimed to educate the general public about the significance of mosquitoes in their daily lives and the important service provided by mosquito control professionals throughout the country. The AMCA, an international nonprofit organization of nearly 2,000 public health professionals, has been dedicated to preserving the public’s health and well-being through safe, environmentally sound mosquito control programs since 1935. For more information, visit www.mosquito.org and follow AMCA on Twitter @AMCAupdates.